Hello! I'm Rudi Riet, and I was Chair of Potomac Pedalers in 2011 and am happy to serve as the Interim Chair of the club in 2024. I'm a current brand ambassador for Moots Bicycles and Ridge Supply, as well as a consultant for District Cycle Works in Georgetown. I'm also the Head Coach for Liberty Mountain Race Team, an alpine ski racing team based at Liberty Mountain, Pennsylvania. I appreciate unique and non-corporate rest stops on long rides, will ride for a great espresso, beer, or country ham biscuit, and will ride my bicycle on any surface that can take me somewhere scenic.

I've organized and co-led the "Downtown Breakaway" ride since 2010 (a ride that regularly attracts one of the larges and most diverse groups of participants on a Pedalers ride), and helped run the Back Roads Century for many years, helping in its move from Berryville to Shepherdstown - no small logistical feat. I also coordinate group rides for DC bike shops, nonprofits, and touring companies, with the emphasis being on equity and inclusion and a special focus being on starting these rides close to where people live. This reflects the advocacy I've taken on in the District of Columbia: building bridges between the experienced bicyclists of the region and folks who are new to cycling or are reluctant to participate due to myriad obstacles, both cultural and structural. 

In returning to leading the ExCom, my hope is to jumpstart the Club's move toward more inclusive and equitable ride offerings, attracting a new and diverse pool of participants and members. I also hope to empower our ExCom to blaze new trails with our club, making it more resilient in a time of challenges for nonprofit organizations, cycling clubs, and organized bicycling, as a whole.

Jonathan Felbinger commutes and runs errands by bikeshare. He was first introduced to a road bike as a guest researcher at a prominent European institute, which offered a loaner Schwinn with downtube shifters. In his career since—spanning recreational road and gravel

riding—he has met interesting people and seen some beautiful views. For example, he has summited Mt Diablo, ridden Vail Pass, and crossed the Eastern Continental Divide.

Danielle credits her love of cycling to a close friend who convinced her to sign up for the 75-mile Bike MS City-to-Shore ride in her home state of New Jersey. For someone who didn’t even own a pair of cycling shorts at the time, this was just the beginning. Like many of us, she also credits the pandemic for deepening her passion for cycling. Danielle enjoys commuting by bike, bike-packing, coffee pitstops, and beautiful group rides through the farmlands of Maryland and Virginia. Danielle moved to D.C. in the summer of 2020 and later became a regular at the Downtown Breakaway. As a new member of PPTC, she looks forward to advocating for cyclists in the DMV area. Outside of cycling, Danielle is an Engineer in the Office of Orthopedic Devices at the Food and Drug Administration. Prior to that, she researched crash injuries and impact biomechanics. This experience cultivated her passion for road safety, which is paramount for cyclists.

I've always been a cyclist at heart. Like so many American kids, learning to ride a bike is a core memory of mine. From my first time taking off the training wheels, to exploring trails through the Maine woods (my backyard) with friends on department store mountain bikes, to the first time Mom let me ride on the road, I loved the feeling of freedom and adventure on two wheels. And like too many American teenagers, I eventually traded my bike for a car, and nearly forgot how fun and useful cycling could be. 

I was fortunate to find my way back to bikes as an adult, and am proud to be part of a club so devoted to better biking in the DC region. PPTC membership has been hugely important for me since I first joined in 2013. The Downtown Breakaway taught me confident group riding skills and is a major part of my summer social calendar, while the touring events like Back Roads Century and the Tailgate Rides have introduced me to some of the most beautiful corners (and best breweries) of the DMV! Bike commuting enabled me to go car free in DC for over a decade, and I've watched as the region's leaders have slowly but surely woken up to the importance of cycling as a means of transport. But a funny thing has happened in the last few years, biking has become so successful that many of our neighbors now ride bikes without ever considering themselves "cyclists"! 

As a member of the Executive Committee, my goal is to help bridge the gap between those of us who ride for sport and those of us who ride simply because it's the best way to get around. The club has an opportunity to leverage our membership and experience to secure the gains made for cycling in DC over the past decade. I believe that if we build meaningful connections across the cycling spectrum - from sporty, to casual, to commuter - and lend our voice to advocate for better bike infrastructure in our city and region, we'll introduce a new generation of riders to the benefits of PPTC membership and help create an even brighter future for the cycling community in the region we all call home.

I’ve been riding with the Potomac Pedalers since moving back to the DMV in 2022. Since then, I’ve been a regular on the Downtown Breakaway, Tailgate ride, and other rides across the area.

I first got into the sport in 2015 after signing up to race a triathlon. Over time, I decided cycling was a lot more fun when followed by an espresso rather than a jog. So now, I mostly spend my time road riding for fitness, commuting around town, and chasing Strava glory (Yes, you may have seen my name as Local Legend of Tilden St NW for two weeks in June 2024).

I love combining cycling and travel, whether to places as close as Shenandoah or as far as the Balearic Islands. But I believe the best rides are the ones I can do from out my front door. Most weekends, I can be found in Rock Creek Park, Montgomery Country, or out on the WO&D trail. 

My goal is to help ensure PPTC continues to attract new riders and provide the structure, environment and camaraderie necessary to help the club and the sport grow.